CITY OF DUALISM

Bukit Bintang - Jalan Alor

Chan Jia Xin 0319565
Evelyn Lai Kah Ying 0322732
Lai Yik Xin 0323388
Lee Hui Qin 0322991
Ng Zheng Si 0322585

JALAN ALOR JALAN BUKIT BINTANG

-Part of the Golden Triangle area in Kuala Lumpur
-Located behind Jalan Bukit Bintang and a short walk
away from Changkat Bukit Bintang
-Can be reached by walking from the shopping malls
in Bukit Bintang and Bukit Bintang monorail station
-Formerly known as the Red light district of Kuala
Lumpur
- A unique food destination in the heart of Kuala
Lumpur.
- A sharp contrast to trendy Jalan Bukit Bintang with
high skyline

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JALAN ALOR JALAN BUKIT BINTANG

FIGURE GROUND ANALYSIS

Figure-Ground Analysis

GEOMETRIC REGULARITY
Regular geometry made up
linear city block at inner city
where mixture of different
geometry at the urban node.
URBAN STREET
Deform grid street pattern
and high densi ty of ci ty
block.

Building Footprint
Study Area
Open Space

Higher density of city block in residential area which leads to higher density of human population. Hence,
it diverse into different areas towards urban node.

Figure-Ground Analysis

TYPOLOGY
City typology: Deformed
Building typology: Linear &
Point
Linear building at inner city
and gradually change to point
typology building towards the
urban node side.
Building Footprint
Study Area
Open Space
Point Form Building

Point typology building: Shopping Mall, Tall buildings (Commercial)

Linear typology building: Shop houses, terraced house (Mix-used between commercial and residential,
residential)

Figure-Ground Analysis

URBAN GRID
I r r e g u l a r, n o d i s t i n c t
a r ra n g e m e n t o f b u i l d i n g
blocks and range of street
orientation.
URBAN FABRIC
Fine Grain focus at the inner
city & Coarse Grain at the
urban node.

Building Footprint
Study Area
Open Space

Fine grain with narrow frontages, frequent storefronts, more intersections, traffic is slower and safer.
Coarse grain open up to wider spaces which isolates users from the space with the public realm.

Figure-Ground Analysis

SOLID AND VOID

The ratio of void : solid at
inner city side is smaller
than urban node side as
the inner city side
consists of many
intersection streets that
connecting to the major
street which is at the
urban node.
building footprint
open spaces

Inner city side residential areas where the street (void) is used by the residents.
Urban node side Shopping complex (commercial area) where the major street and open spaces
(void) is used by public users (local and global).

Figure-Ground Analysis

SCALE
Smaller and humanising
built form at the inner city
side. It has a smooth
transition of building scale
from inner city to urban
node as the form transits
from linear to point form.

building footprint
open spaces
15m x 15m block

Inner city side more private area (residential area) hence smaller scale built form.
Urban node side public space (commercial area targeted on tourists) hence larger scale built form.

FORM

FORM
The buildings in Jalan Alor have
similar element on the faade, create
a horizontal rhythm in visual. The
building along the journey to Jalan
Bukit Bintang gradually varies in
height and emphasized on verticality
at the nodes of Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Point
Linear

MOVEMENT PATTERN

MOVEMENT PATTERN DATA

- City is divided into smaller parts.
- Type of function and activities
was built according to the street
orientation.

Main road
Subsidiary road
Back lane

URBAN MOBILITY
Personal movements
-linked are between commercial area.
Touristic movements
-interaction between amenities and
landmark.

Personal movements
Touristic movements

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT PATTERN-DAY TIME

During the day time The shops along
Jalan Alor were closed, the
movement is a minimal, only the
l o ca l s w h o l i ve t h e re co m e fo r
groceries and lunch. Less pedestrian
movement compare to Jalan Bukit
Bintang.

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT PATTERN-NIGHT TIME

During the night time The stalls and
restaurant along Jalan Alor start to
set up. More pedestrian movement
compare to Jalan Bukit Bintang.

ACTIVITY

LAND USE DISTRIBUTION

Diverse of activities are happening along
Jalan Alor and Jalan Bukit Bintang, however
mainly are for commercial uses.

Commercial
Institutional
Commercial - Residential

ACTIVITY USE DISTRIBUTION

VIBRANCY-DAY
During the daytime, there is more activity going on in
Jalan Bukit Bintang than Jalan Alor. Less shops and
restaurants are operating in Jalan Alor

Purple gradient indicates vibrancy of the area

VIBRANCY-NIGHT
During the night time, there is more activity going on
in Jalan Alor than Jalan Bukit Bintang. Hawker stalls,
tables and chair are set up along the road. The
culture in Jalan Alor is stronger and more robust than
day time compare to Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Purple gradiant indicates vibrancy of the area

JOURNEY IN MAP-Street experience

Dualism
Engaging

Vibrancy

Stimulating

Welcoming

SOCIAL DIMENSION
Serial Vision 1

Form

Scale & Proportion

The height of building gradually increases from Jalan
Alor to Jalan Bukit Bintang. The scale of the buildings in
Jalan Alor are more appropriate to human scale which
gives a sense of humble and create an intimacy
between the buildings and the users. In Jalan Bukit
Bintang, the larger scale building tend to attract
peoples attention.

Form

Faade & Material

The faade of buildings in Jalan Alor composed of
similar elements in a horizontal rhythm that creates
familiarity to the users. In Jalan Bukit Bintang, various
types of material and arrangements are introduced,
shows a sense of intimidation.

Activity

Local to Global
The restaurants and hawker stalls along Jalan Alor offer
local eatery while the in Jalan Bukit Bintang, the
presence of retail stores offers international brands
products. Stronger local culture can be found in Jalan
Alor.

Movement Pattern

Disconnectivity to Connectivity
The linearity in Jalan Alor promotes movement at a
pace that is unsuitable for users engagement with the
surroundings. In Jalan Bukit Bintang, there is nodes that
acts as gathering points, enhancing the relationship
between the pedestrians and their surroundings.

TEMPORAL DIMENSION
Serial Vision 2

DAY

NIGHT

Multiplicity to Singular Point

DAY
As a starting point of journey, the verticality of building
such as shopping malls and commercial blocks can be
seen apparently. The user may experience a distracted
mind by various height and form of high rise building.
NIGHT
The distraction reduced by the lit up shopping mall
which pulls all attention on itself.

Web of Transport System

DAY
High linear movement of pedestrian and vehicle
around the public transport station and main
road due to the working time. There are
overlapping of multiple transport network.
NIGHT
The covered pedestrian walkway along the way
to station become narrower as homeless people
will shelter or sleep by the roadside, create a
stronger linear axis of movement.

Engagement at Both Side

DAY
High vehicle flow in linear pattern as the road is
connecting the main junction with the other side of the
city. The inconsistency of building faade and height give
as sense of chaos and distract the focal point.
NIGHT
The vehicle flow decrease apparently after the working
time, increase the pedestrian density and thus promote
the engagement of users at both sides of the road.

Nodes

DAY
Necessary activities such as hawker stall and fruit stall are
carried out at the starting point at the junction which is an
intersection point of culture, commercial and residential,
increase density of people and vehicle flow.
NIGHT
The junction become a drop off point for taxi and other
transport, create high vehicle and people flow, as the linear
road had become a vibrant plane for business.

Desolated- Busy

DAY
The building serves two function at different level which
are commercial (GF) and residential (1stF). Few business
operated. Limited linear vehicles & pedestrian movement
create a desolated environment.
NIGHT
The upper floor residential level become invisible because
of the illuminated shop sign. The eatery starts to extend
their business out to the road which turn the linear road to
a plane. It offers different choice to the public.(Robustness)

COLLAGE CITY

Collage City

Coarse Grain Fine Grain

Connectivity - Disconnectivity

High Scale Low Scale

In Flow Out Flow

Local - Global

Solid - Void

Coarse Grain- Fine Grain

Fine grain are arranged closely to each
other, which induces a continuous flow of
pedestrian movement, thus circulating in a
mannerly order which is in linear form. This
provides opportunities for the users to
discover and explore Jalan Alor.
Coarse grain buildings limit the variety of
angles for users when exploring the area.

Coarse Grain
Fine Grain

KEY ELEMENT: Building Form

High scale Low scale

High scale buildings which are mostly located
in Bukit Bintang attract people to look up.
Low scale buildings are much more
appropriate to human scale. Most of the low
scale buildings are with narrow frontages,
frequent storefronts and minimal setbacks
from the street. This induces tactual intimacy,
which gives people a sense of familiarity.

High Scale
Low Scale

KEY ELEMENT: Building Form

Local - Global
Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor
comprising both global and local features.
L o ca l l o w r i s e b u i l d i n g s ( t ra d i t i o n a l
shophouse) and h aw ke r sta l l s a re
concentrated in Jalan Alor while high end
buildings with globalised activities are
concentrated at Jalan Bukit Bintang.
The local and rustic food culture in Jalan
Alor creates a dualism city together with the
international landmark and cuisine in Jalan
Bukit Bintang.
Global
Local

KEY ELEMENT- ACTIVITY, BUILDING FORM

Connectivity - Disconnectivity
Due to the close arrangement of the fine
grain building in Jalan Alor, linear movement
pattern along the street is emphasized. Thus,
the focal point of the street is the end of
Jalan Alor which induces the users to walk
towards the focal point. This causes the lack
of engagement between users and their
surrounding, thus disconnectivity.
Whereas in Bukit Bintang, nodes serve as
gathering points, which allow users to engage
with the surrounding, thus connectivity.

Connectivity
Disonnectivity

KEY ELEMENT: Movement Pattern

In Flow Out Flow (Pedestrian)

During daytime, the residence in Jalan Alor
leave their living places to work, showing an
outflow of pedestrian from Jalan Alor, leaving
stagnancy in Jalan Alor.
During night time, crowds including tourists,
walk from Bukit Bintang to Jalan Alor to
explore the local eateries in Jalan Alor. This
creates an inflow of pedestrian in Jalan Alor
which actually injects vibrancy into the street.

In flow
Out flow

KEY ELEMENT: Movement Pattern

Solid - Void
Void in between solids serves as public realm
for users.
Due to the void in Jalan Bukit Bintang is larger
than the void in Jalan Alor, the quantities and
size of public realm is larger compared to
Jalan Alor. Thus, there are more gathering
spaces in Bukit Bintang.
Also, the number of intersections of voids are
more in Jalan Alor which creates permeability
for the users, alternative path to weave
around the building , thus encouraging
continuous flow of movement in Jalan Alor.

Area with larger void

KEY ELEMENT: Building Form, Movement Pattern, Activity

Area with smaller void

Conclusion
In this urban city with a prominent dualism character, it allows tourists to explore the cultural hearth
of Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Alor, also to experience the vibrancy of this hectic city. Although the contrast
of Jalan Alor and Bukit Bintang occurs in terms of different dimension, yet, it still creates a harmony
relationship among the users with the city. The built form, movement pattern, activities and function
of the buildings have shaped the big picture of this dualism city.

COMPARISON OF 3 CITIES

Dimensions

Wilayah Persekutuan,
Kuala Lumpur

Social dimension - Mix of local and global activities.

- Aims to become a world class city

Kuching, Sarawak

George Town, Penang

- Cultural hotspot attracts

tourists with the promote of
their art, culture, tradition and
crafts.

- More cultural and heritage

activities on going

- Giving a sense of modernization of

the city.
- Cultural historical
conservation area.
Temporal
dimension

-During daytime, inflow of people

- Kuching waterfront serves
due to working hours.
as a recreational and
- During night time, the city serves
entertainment hub, thus
as entertainment for tourist and
crowd during daytime is
local.
lesser than the crowd
during night time.
- The city is more vibrant at night
and busy in the morning

- Cultural activities become

tourist attraction, which
causes a packed city.

- Tourist spot such as the

mural attracts tourist in the
daytime .
- During night time, the crowd
is lesser as the mural is less
visible .

Dimensions

Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala

Lumpur

Kuching , Sarawak

Visual
dimension

- Majority of the buildings - Waterfront becomes

are in big scale. which
the focal point of
gives an intimidating
Kuching, thus a node.
feeling to the users.
- Vertical layering of
- A distinct boundary
movement pattern
between developed
creates a chaotic scenery.
city and traditional
village.

- Unique cultural townscape represents the

British era from the end of the 18th
century which gives a sense of antiqueness

Functional
dimension

- Connectivity of
transportation creates a
linkage between places,
eventually enhance the
relationship between the
users and their
surroundings

- Public transport less efficient compared to

Kuala Lumpur due to the lower density of
population in the city.
- Most of the tourists like to cycle to enjoy
the historical city.

- Boat links the

traditional village with
the developed city.
- Proposal of the
curvilinear pedestrian
bridge provides an
intimate pedestrian
experience.

Georgetown, Penang

WISHES OF TALES
Andrea
Kuala Lumpur is the city I like the most among these 3 cities. Even though the hustle and bustle life gives a sense of hectic to this
city, the advanced technology and extensive public transportation making it convenient and efficient. It provide connection and
shorten the distance between destination and destination. Despite it is an urbanisation place, the cultural value is yet preserved by
promoting local food to the tourists in Jalan Alor. And also, the night life in Kuala Lumpur which is contrast to daytime gives
vibrancy and liven up the street
Evelyn
My favourite city is Georgetown in Penang. The rich culture of different eras has rich influence in the architecture of the building.
The traditional five- foot walkway serve as a buffer zone between the shophouses and the vehicular land. It offers the users an
engagement with the environment. Georgetown has a rich pedestrian walkway network. The distance between the place to place
are close to each other due to its small scale. The poor public transport can be neglected due to the walkability in the city.
Zheng Si
Kuala Lumpur is my favourite city as I like the coexistence of cultural and modernism in Kuala Lumpur. I am amazed by the dualism
of this city, which actually makes this city more interesting. Most people's perception of Kuala Lumpur is a hectic busy city, but if we
explore and feel the city, the cultural part of the city is still preserved. Efficient public transport connects places , also linking the
user with the surrounding. It also offers a great opportunity for tourists to explore the different side of Kuala Lumpur.

Jessie
Compare to Penang and Kuching, I prefer Kuala Lumpur although it is not too safe compare to the other two cities. It has
the most mixed function in one place such as a mix of commercial with residential area. For example, Bukit Bintang is a
commercial area while Jalan Alor is a cultural eatery with residential areas which creates a dualism of the function. It also
creates a more social and harmony place for the tourists and locals, which made this city thoroughly a vibrant place to be
in.
Yik Xin
Kuala Lumpur is my favourite city as compare to the rest. After my personal experience in the city, I like the sense of
contrast when we walk through the journey from Jalan Alor to Jalan Bukit Bintang. The coexistence of these two different
jalan form the city of dualism. One cannot live without the other. In the aspect of building form, movement pattern,
activity, human and food culture, these two jalan create a huge contrast yet a very interesting collage of city.

THE END